Is it normal for my arm muscle in my shoulder to hurt 2 weeks after flu shot?

Hi folks,
Well, finished the abx and there is no improvement whatsoever. Doc wants to now order an MRI, having no health insurance I am hesitant on the cost of this and doubtful that it will even do any good. Anyone have an MRI and or CT scan relating to this, and if so, did it show anything at all? I am so frustrated with this, can't seem to get any help from the clinic or hospital the clinic represents..I think if the shot was given too high, they should be responsible for any treatments needed to help patients. Summer is coming and this year will be different. Most summers Ive spent at the pool with my granddaughter, swimming ... or at the park playing frisbee, whiffle ball, kite flying...I fear I will not be able to do any of this with her. I did something as simple as lifting a couple of photo albums from a shelf just the other day and the pain in my arm was immediate and intense. Somebody somewhere needs to LISTEN and BELIEVE all of us when we say this WAS from the flu shot...and be held accountable to help us. As always, I look forward to any and all input on this. Thanks in advance.

I am a man but I too had a too high flu shot 7 months ago - it is now march of 2011. It hurt when she gave it to me and I told my wife when I got home that it was administered too high on my shoulder and felt like it went into the bone or a nerve. I was unable to sleep on my left side, very painfull to pull my socks off or put on a shirt over my head, etc. Went back to the doctor and was sent to pt and I did that on my own after the sessions ran out for about 4 months - I was getting to the point where I could sleep on my left side and do things without too much pain - it was still there but it seemed to be getting better slowly. Then, 3 nights ago, I woke up in terrible pain again - I don't know if it was because I slept on it or what but it was back with a vengence!! Now I'm back to ice packs, heating pads, neck brace and pills. I'm going back to my doctor tomorrow with a bunch of stuff I've printed off the internet about people like me that are suffering. We'll see what she says, but I may have to go to another doctor that specializes in this kind of thing -?

Saw my doctor yesterday, arm just isn't getting any better. She is treating it as a deep tissue abscess and put me a ten day antibiotic treatment. If that doesn't work she wants to do an MRI/Cat Scan. Hopefully the antibiotic will work, but honestly am doubtful it will. I will post an update and let everyone know what happens. This is so very frustrating, wasn't even able to hold my newborn great-niece , the pain in the arm was just too bad. :(

I am the Anonymous who posted on Dec. 11, 2010. I'm happy to report that after 3 months, my arm is improving somewhat. I can sleep on my left side now without pain, and my range of motion/strength is getting better day by day. I didn't do any kind of treatment . . . other than pray for healing (and take Celebrex for 6 days -- see my first post). I am probably not going to get flu shots in the future; if I do I will ask for them to be given in my posterior. And I'm going to get an RN to give me the shot, not the pharmacy tech. at Kroger!

Am so relieved to find this thread as I too am experiencing all these same symptoms since getting the flu shot a few months back. Constant dull ache when not using the arm and a marked increase of pain when using the arm at all! Also am having trouble raising my arm past shoulder height without pain...along with weakness in arm and hand. Pain also generates into the shoulder and neck on the left side(where shot was given) I know this is much more than just a normal reaction from the flu shot, it is going on three months and shows NO signs of improvement. Having no medical insurance at this time, I am torn between making an appt. to have this checked out or just wait it out and see what those who are suffering the same pain find out. This is effecting not only my sleep but my daily day to day life as well. Someone needs to LISTEN to us and accept that this is something directly related to the flu vaccine and step up to the plate to help us!!

Hi Tigress,
Thank you for sharing this information. Hopefully this home remedy will help others. I am certainly glad that you are no longer experiencing pain.

Thank you for sharing,
Missie

I also had a flu shot too high in my left arm in October 2010. As my doctor was injecting the liquid it hurt like crazy. She said "everyone is telling me that this year."

I have had horrible pain in my left shoulder, elbow and forearm since October and getting worse each day. I was to the point where I couldn't make a fist or even pick up a piece of paper with my left hand.

After reading the comments here I decided to avoid a doctor for now and try some home remedies.

For the past week I have been soaking my arm and shoulder in warm water and Epsom salts for 5 minutes after my morning shower. I made a concoction of Jojoba oil, lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil and rub that into my arm after soaking it. During the day or evening I try to put a moist warm heating pad (the kind you heat in the microwave) on my arm for about 15 minutes.

This is the 5th day of treatment and there is a huge difference. I can now sleep on my left side without pain. I can use my hand and arm more. I will keep doing this until it is completely better.

Hope this can help someone else who doesn't want to go the doctor/pill route.

i had mine 2 weeks ago as well, and my arm is still sore as well.